Wave-motor.



- D. KuBRISOM WAVE MOTOR. APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 2, 1908.

. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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wan a ruswonms srsks ca, WASHINGTON, nc D. K. BBYSON'. WAVE MOTOR.

' "APPLICATION P1113? SEPT. 2, 19' 8-v Patented Apr 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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D. K. BRYSON.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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E NORRIS PETERS D. K. BRYSON.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLIOAT1 .ON FILED SEPT. 2, 190a.

Patnted Apr. 20, 1909.

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witnoonzo D. K. BRYSON. WAVE MOTOR.

- APPLIOATION FILED snr'r. 2,-1908.

"Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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UNITED 'sTA s PATENT DAVID K. BRYSON, or PITTsBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or FORTY-FOUR ONE- HUNDREDTHS To D. P. OSBORNE, or CLEVELAND, onro.

WAVE-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed September 2, 1908. Serial No. 451,369.

" the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to wave motors, and

the primary object of my invention is to provide a novel machine for obtaining power from the ocean waves, said machine being utilized for operating plants located in the vicinity of an ocean shore.

Another object of this invention is to utilize the undulatory movement of floats to re-, volve 'a shaft. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine having a plurality of separate and distinct units adapted to cooperate in imparting a revoluble movement to a shaft, each unit embodying a float and a novel mechanism for imparting a revoluble movement to the shaft irrespective of the direction in which. the float moves.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a wave motor that will'be actuated by the least perceptible circumrotatory movement of floats used in connection with the motor, said motor being constructed whereby it will withstand the forces ofnature encountered at the ocean shore, whereby sea weeds, shells, and other movable matter in the ocean cannot clog or interfere with the operation of the motor, and whereby each and every part of the motor can be easily reached, repaired and maintained in an operative condition.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the inven tion is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be presently described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of my motor, illustrating three units thereof, Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a rock head and vertically reciprocating cap forming a part of one of the units of my motor, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of wave motor, Fig. 5 is a plan I of the same, Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the motor illustrating mechanismused in connection with both forms of my invention, Fig. 7 is a plan of a combined sprocket wheel used for imparting a rotary movement to the main shaft of my motor, Fig. .8 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a modified form of motor, Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of rock head and reciprocating cap, and Fig. 11 is an elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of one of the floats.

To put my invention into practice, I use a pier or suitable elevated structure for supporting my motor a desired and safe distance above the ocean waves, said pier or structure being preferably in communication with the ocean shore, whereby power can be easily transmitted to the shore for manufacturing or electric lighting purposes. The motor can be suitably housed upon the pier or structure and protected from destructive forces of nature that might render the motor inoperative.

My motor consists of a plurality of units that are arran ed as compactly as possible to cooperate, eac unit having mechanism for imparting a revoluble movement to a shaft from a float moved in an undulatory manner. I have only deemed it necessary to illustrate three of these units and would have it understood that an indefinite number can be used according to the power desired. As these units are identical in construction, with only a slight exception on account of the arrangement of the same, I will only describe one of said units. 7

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 designates a pier or elevated structure provided with a plurality of longitudinally alining bearings 2 for a longitudinal shaft 3 adapted to be driven by the units of my machine, this shaft having a wheel 4. provided. witha pitman connection 5 for driving an engine or a piece of machinery.

The pier or elevated structure 1 adjacent to each bearing is provided with an opening 6 over which is mounted a cone bearing 7. Extending upwardly'through the opening 6 and the bearing 7 is a tubular flo at lever 8 having threaded or mounted upon the upper end thereof a circular rock head 9 having a peripheral vertical flange 10 providing an annular seat for a frusto-conical hollow cap 11, some head 9. Upon the upper end of the cap 11 is arranged a universal connection 12 for a yoke 13, said yoke being connected to a walking beam 14 pivotally mounted in the bearing 2, as at 15. The object of this beam will hereinafter appear.

The lower end of the lever 8 is provided with a longitudinal slot 16, and slidably mounted upon the lever is a metallic hollow oval float 17, said float having a central vertical sleeve 18 providing clearance for t? lever, and a detachable plug 19, whereby the float can be filled to displace the desired amount of water in the ocean. The sleeve 18 is formed with bearings 20 for grooved rollers 21, these rollers bracing and guiding the float when sliding upon the lever S. The upper end of the sleeve 18 is provided. with an inwardly projecting apertured lug 22 connecting with a sprocket chain or cable 23, which extends upwardly in the tubular lever 8, between two grooved rollers 24 revolubly mounted upon the rock head 9, said cable or chain extending upwardly through the cap 11 and over a pulley or sprocket wheel 25 loosely mounted upon the shaft 3. After passing over the pulley or sprocket wheel the cable or chain passes over a pulley 26 journaled in a bracket 26, carried by the bearing 2, the end of said cable or sprocket chain being provides with a weight 26*.

The sprocket wheel 25 is arranged between two collars 27 and 28 mounted upon the shaft 3. Interposed between the collar 28 and th s rocket wheel 25 is a ratchet wheel 29 and a risk 30, and encircling the shaft 3 for normally holding the disk 30 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 29 is a coil spring 31. The ratchet wheel 29 is keyed upon the shaft 3, as at 32, while the disk 30 is loosely mounted thereon.

Pivotally connected to the sprocket wheel 25 by a pin 33 is a pawl 34 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 29. The disk 30 is cut away, as at 35, whereby the pawl 34 can be easily connected to the sprocket wheel 25. The pawl 34 is provided with. a pin 36, said pin extending through said pawl and having the ends thereof engaging in a slot 37 formed in the disk 30 and in a groove 38' formed in the sprocket wheel 25. This mechanism constitutes what may be termed a ratchet mechanism for moving the shaft 3 in one direction, said ratchet mechanism being placed out of operation while the shaft is moved in the opposite direction.

Assuming that the sprocket wheel 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow A, see Fig. 6, the pin 36 of the pawl 34 is raised to the upper ends of the slot 37 and the groove 38, thereby maintaining the end of the pawl 34 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 29. Assuming now that a sprocket wheel is rotated in the direction of the arrow B of the same figure, the coil spring 31 holds the disk 30 in engagement with. the keyed ratchet wheel 29 until the pin 36 of the pawl 34' rides downwardly in the slot 37 and the groove 38, at which time the pawl 34 engages the ratchet wheel 29 and causes said. sprocket wheel and ratchet wheel to rotate in unison, the disk 30 remaining stationary. This disk is simply employed to force the pawl 34 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 29, and the movement thereof is hardly perceptible during the operation of the machine. A similar ratchet mechanism is located upon the shaft 3 above the wev king beam 1-1, as indicated at 39, the end. of said beam having a cable or sprocket chain 40 extending over the mechanism and provided with a weight 4]. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the cables or sprocket chains 23 and 40 are arranged the reverse of one another, whereby the ratchet mechanism 39 will actuate the shaft 3 in the same direction, as the ratchet mechanism adjacent to the bearing 2.

As will hereinafter appear, it is essential that all of the beams 14 of the units be arranged at one side of the shaft 3,whercby the ratchet mechanisms actuated by the cables or sprocket chains of said beams will move the shaft 3 in the desired direction.

Before describing the modifications of my invention it is thought that said modifications will be better understood if the operation of the machine is first described.

Operation: In considering the operation, I will first describe the action of the tubular float levers which receive their motion from the lateral impulses of the waves. Since the tubular float levers have the upper ends thereof held by the cone bearings 7, said levers can swing in any direction within the limits of the rock head 9. The swinging movement of the levers 8 tilts the head 9 causing the caps 11 to be raised and lowered, and by reason of the universal connection with the walking beams, said beams will be oscillated to actuate the ratchet nn chanisms 39; the weights 41 maintaining the chains or cables taut during the upward movement of the outer ends of the walking beams. lieference will now be had to the floats 17 arranged upon the levers 8. The. undulatolw manner in which the floats 17 are moved by the swells of the waves will reciprocate said floats upon the swinging lovers 8. weight of a float consequently pulls downwardly upon the chains or cables causing the ratchet mechanisms adjacent to the boarings 2 to operate and turn the shaft 3, while the upward movement of the float allows the shaft 3 to be actuated by the ratchet mech anisms placed in operation through the medium of the walking beams 46. The floats containing large quantities of water will be raised by the waves and the chains or cables 23 will rotate the sprocket wheels 25 without will thus be observed that thetubular float levers constitute swinging elements actuated by the lateral impulse of a wave, while the floats constitute reciprocating elements actuated by the swell of wave, these elements being combined for continuously rotating a shaft. 7

Reference will now be had to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 illustrating the modifications of my invention. In the first place, separate bearings 42 are provided for the shaft 3, and said shaft at certain points is provided with balance wheels 43 and pulley Wheels 44. The vertically reciprocating caps are of a skeleton form with the shaft 3 extending through said caps, and these caps at their upper ends are provided with ball and socket connections 45 with walking beams 46, said beams being fulcrumed upon bearing 47 adjacent to the bearings 49. The beams 46 are weighted, as at 48, to properly balance the walking beams, and are rovided with cables or chains similar to the earns 14, with the exception that the chains or cables travel under the ratchet mechanisms 39, as shown in Fig. 6, and over pulleys 49 provided therefor.

Instead of locating the ratchet mechanisms directly above the reciprocating caps, as in the preferred form, I locate said ratchet mechanisms in the caps and upon the shaft 3.

While in-the drawings forming a part of this application there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that the same can be varied or changed as to shape, proportion and manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. In a wave motor, the combination with a pier, bearings supported thereby, and a shaft journaled in said bearings, of a plurality of shaft operating units located upon said pier, each unit comprising a cone bearing, a

rock head located thereon, a depending tu- 1 bular float lever supported by said rock head, a float slidably mounted upon said lever, a lu carried by said float and extending into sai lever, a reciprocating cap supported by said rock head, a walking beam pivotally mounted in one of the first mentioned bearings, a universal connection between said beam and said cap, ratchetmech'anisms located upon said shaft, said mechanisms comprising loosely mounted sprocket wheels, keyed ratchet wheels, spring-pressed disks, pawls pivotally carried by said sprocket 'wheels for engaging said ratchet Wheels, a sprocket chain attached to the lug of said float and extending upwardly through said lever and over the sprocket wheel of one ratchet mechanism, a sprocket chain connecting with said beam and passing over the sprocket wheel of the other of said ratchet mechanisms, and weights carried by said sprocket chains.

2. In awave motor, the combination with a pier, bearings carried thereby, and a shaft journaled in said bearings, of shaft operating units supported by said pier, each unitcomprising a cone bearing, a rock head mounted thereon, a depending tubular float lever carried by said rock head, a float slidably mounted upon said lever, a reciprocatim cap carried by said rock head, a walking beam pivotally connected to one of the first mentioned bearings and adapted to be oscillated by the movement ofsaid cap, ratchet mechanisms located upon said shaft and adapted to be actuated by the movement of said float upon said lever and by the oscillation of said. beam, said ratchet mechanisms comprising loosely mounted sprocket wheels, pivotally mounted pawls carried by said sprocket wheels, and means for normally iolding said pawls out of engagement with said ratchet 1 wheels, substantially as described.

3. In a wave motor, the combination with a pier, bearings supported. thereby, and a shaft journaled in said bearings, of a plurality of shaft operating units supported by said pier, each unit comprising a cone bearing, a rock head located thereon, a depending tubular float lever carried by said rock head, a float slidably mounted upon said lever, a beam pivotally carried by one of said bearings and adapted to be oscillatedby a rock ing movement of said head, ratchet mechan isms located upon said shaft for rotating the same, said mechanisms comprising loosely mounted sprocket wheels, keyed ratchet wheels, spring-pressed disks, pawls pivotally carried by said sprocket wheels for engaging said ratchet wheels a weighted sprocket chain connecting with said beam for actuating one .of said mechanisms, and a weighted sprocket chain connecting with said float for actuating the other of said mechanisms.

4. In a wave motor, the combination with a pier, bearings supported thereby, and a shaft journaled in said bearings, of a plurality of shaft operating units supported by said pier, each unit comprising a cone bearing, a rock head located thereon, a depending tubular float lever carried by said rock head, a float slidably mounted upon said lever, a beam pivotally carried by one of said bearings and adapted to be oscillated by a rocking movement of said head, ratchet mechanisms'located upon said shaft for rorating the same, a weighted sprocket chain connecting with said beam for actuating one of said mechanisms, and a weighted sprocket chain connecting with said float for actuating the other of said mechanisms. 5. In a wave motor, the combination with a pier, bearings supported thereby, and a shaft journaled in said bearings, of a plurality of shaft operating units supported by said pier, each unit comprising a cone bearing, a depending tubular float lever carried thereby, va float slidably mounted upon said tubular lever, a beam pivotally supported by said pier and adapted to be oscillated by a rocking movement of said head, ratchet mechanisms located upon said shaft, one of said mechanisms being operated by an oscillatory movement of said beam, and the other of said mechanisms being actuated by the sliding movement of said Heat.

6. In a Wave motor, the combination With a shaft, of a plurality of units for operating said shaft, each unit comprising a cone bearing, a rock head carried thereby, a depending lever supported by said rock head, a float slidably mounted upon said lever, ratchet mechanisms located upon said shaft, one of said mechanisms being actuated by the rocking movement of said head, and the other ofsaidmechanisms being actuated by the sliding movement of said float.

7. In a Wave motor, the combination With a shaft, of a plurality of shaft operating units, each unit comprising a rock head, and a cone bearing for supporting the head a depending float lever carried thereby, a float slidably mounted upon said lever, ratchet mechanisms located upon said shaft, one of said mechanisms being actuated by the movement of said head, and the other of said mechanisms being actuated by the movement of said float.

8. In a Wave motor, the combination with a shaft, of a plurality of shaft operating units, each unit comorising a rock head, ratchet mechanisms located upon said shaft, one of said mechanisms being actuated by the movement of said rock head, and a cone bearing for the lower end of the head and a ciroumrotatory moving float for actuating said rock head and the other of said ratchet mechanisms.

9. In a Wave motor, the combination with a shaft, of a plurality of independent mechanisms for rotating said shaft, a cap connected to and adapted to operate one of said mechanisms independently of the other, means for actuating the cap, means for rocking the means to actuate the cap, and means for operating the other mechanism independently.

10. A Wave motor, comprising the combination with a shaft, of a plurality of driving mechanisms therefor, a cap actuating one of said mechanisms, a head operable with the lateral impulse of a Wave for actuating the cap causing thereby the operation of that mechanism to which the cap is connected, and an element operable by the swell of a wave for operating the other actuating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I a'IliX my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

If a; H. SRoLovrrz, b. V. Bnoons. 

